Cloth preshrinking machine



Jan. 15, 1935. 1.. L. DE SMET CLOTH PRESHRINKING MACHINE Filed June 24;1935 2 Sheets-Sheet gym I! an H .....a. t

w mm INVENTOR WITINESSES Jan.15,1935. L ,DE sME-r 1,988,376

CLOTH PRESHRINKING MACHINE Filed June 24, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IHHINVENTOR g igj i uiSFeSmeZ A Patented Jan. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE CLOTH PRESHRINKING MACHINE Lieven Louis DeSmet, Paterson, N. J.Application June 24, 1933, Serial No.=6"l7,485

12 Claims. (01. 26-38) This invention relates to a cloth preshrinkingmachine, and has for an object to provide an improved construction whichis comparatively enexpenslve and yet which in operation functions at acomparatively high speed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a 'preshrinkingmachine wherein the parts may be readily adjusted to preshrink cloth toany desired extent and to function at a comparatively high speed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a preshrinking machinefor preshrinking cloth wherein a system. of gathering or pulling beltsare used not only to feed the cloth through the machine but to actthereon to move thefilling or pick threads closer together as the clothpasses through the machine.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a side view of a clothpreshrinking'" machine disclosing an embodiment of the-invention; v

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through Figure 2 onthe line 3-3;

Figure 4 is anenlarged fragmentary sectional view through Figure 2 onthe line 4-4;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional viewthrough Figure 1 onthe line 5-5.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals 1 indicates a framewhich may be provided with suitable uprights to take care of the variousbearings and other devices that need to be properly supported.Preferably there is an end member 2 at each end of the device, therespective end members and suitable connecting bars forming the frame.The detailed structure of this frame forms no part of the presentirivention except certain parts which will be hereinafter specificallydescribed.

As shown in Figure 1, the respective end members 2 are identical so thata description of one will apply to both. As illustrated in Figure 1 eachend member 2 is provided with what may be termed a guiding socket 3having vertical guideways a and 5 accommodating the sliding frame 6which has suitable flanges 7 and 8 straddling the guide ways 4 and 5,whereby this sliding frame may reciprocate a shaft 9. Shaft 9 is rigidlysecured to an enlargement 10 of the sliding frame 6, this shaft beingprovided with threads 11 which accommodate the nut 12, said nut beingpreferably rigidly secured to and, if desired, formed integrally withthe worm wheel 13. The respective emit of nut 12 are fitted between thesurfaces 14 and 15 forming opposite sides of the opening 18 in the end2. It will be understood that the end 2 is provided with a suitable bore17 for loosely accommodating shaft 9, whereby whenever wheel 13 is r0- 5tated shaft 9 will be moved upwardly or downwardly, and as it is rigidlysecured to the sliding frame 6 a similar movement will take place withrespect to this frame and to the heating drum 18, which is rigidlysecured to the sliding frame 6. 10 A worm pinion 19 is continuallymeshing with the worm gear 13 and is also rigidly secured to shaft 20,which shaft has a hand wheel 21 rigidly secured thereto. Shaft 20extends entirely across the machine so that the hand wheel 21 mayoperate the gear wheel 13 at each side of the machine simultaneously, itbeing under-. stood that both sides of the machine are formedidentically. As indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 1, the gearwheel 22 is continually in mesh with pinion l9 rigidly secured to shaft20 and also with gear wheel 23, which latter gear wheel is rigidlysecured to shaft 24 carrying the indicating disc 25 having graduations26 thereon. A stationary pointer 27 is provided near the disc 25 so asto indicate the amount i of movement of the sliding frame 6 andassociated parts whenever hand wheel 21 is rotated. It will beunderstood that the gear wheel 13 and worm pinion 19 are arranged atboth sides of the machine, as shown in Fig. 2, while the hand wheel 21is only on one side and also the Vernier adjustment or indicating means25 and associated parts.

By this construction and arrangement the 1 hand wheel 21 may operate atany time and be moved considerably or only for a short distance, and thedisc 25 will indicate the movement thereof and consequently the upwardor downward movement of the heating drum 18. Drum 18 is made from adesired metal amply strong to withstand appreciable pressure of steamand also an appreciable pressure of the drum against the cloth beingtreated and the parts associated therewith. Steam from any suitablesource is passed through valve 28 into the drum 18 so as to maintain thesame at a certain heat. This heat is sumcient to completely dry thecloth before it passes out of the machine. As shown in Figure 1, theroll 29 indicates a roll of fabric to be preshrunk. This fabric iscaused to move between the rollers 30 and 31, roller 31 being partlysubmerged in the tank 32 of water. Roller 30 presses somewhat againstthe fabric and presses the fabric against the roller 31,

whereby moisture from the roller will be pressed into the fabric so thatthe fabric will be wet all the way through. The fabric 33 then passes tothe drum 18, and over this drum to the discharge end thereof. As itpasses .over the curved upper edge 34 of the drum it is treated toproduce the preshrinking action and is also dried, so that when thecloth finally moves out the discharge end of the machine it will bepreshrunk and also substantially dry.

After a piece of cloth leaves the loom it is treated in various ways,for instance, bleached and dyed, and in this treatment it is stretchedmore or less. In the washing and treatment of the cloth the fillingthreads or picks are moved further apart than intended. It is notunusual for a piece of cloth to be woven with forty picks or fillingthreads per inch and after it has been bleached and dyed to have onlythirty-two filling threads or picks per inch. In order to move thefilling threads or picks back to their original position so that therewill be forty filling threads per inch when the cloth has been stretchedto its original width, it is treated by the machine shown in-theaccompanying drawings. This machine will pull the filling threads backto their original position and when the machine is properly set clothfed into the same having thirtytwo threads or picks per inch will emergefrom the machine having forty filling threads or picks per inch. This isonly an example, as the machine may be adjusted to get other anddifferent results. For instance, thirty-eight filling threads or picksper inch where before there were only thirty-two per inch. The fillingthreadsor picks are moved or crowded forwardly in a smooth, even mannerso that they are.

spaced the proper distance apart when leaving the machine.

The action of the machine is such that quite a number of yards perminute may be passed through the machine and preshrunk as justdescribed. As an example, it is possible to run ninety yards per minutethrough the machine, though this speed is not essential to the properaction of the machine.

In order to secure the results just described a number of rollers andbelts are associated with the drum -18 for acting on the cloth as itpasses through the machine. In the machine shown in the accompanyingdrawings there are nine rollers which are identical as far asconstruction is concerned but of different sizes. It will be noted thatmore or even less than nine rollers could be used without departing fromthe spirit of the invention. As illustrated in Figure 3, each of therollers has the appearance of roller 35, and in addition, as shown inFigure 1, there are provided rollers 36, 3'7, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 and 43.As just mentioned, each of the rollers 35 to 43, inclusive, are shown inFigure 3, namely, with a large annular section 44 and a small annularsection 45. There are a large number of annular sections 44 and also alarge number of sections 45 in each of rollers 35 to 43. The varioussections 45 are of less diameter than sections 44, the difference beingapproximately one-sixteenth of an inch, though it could be greater oreven less without departing from the spirit of the invention. The widthof sections 44 and 45 also may vary but a convenient size has been foundto be one inch. On sections 44 of roller 35 are placed endless belts 46,and associated with these belts and the various sections 44 are a numberof guiding fingers 47 carried by a guiding bar 48 bolted or otherwisesecured to the respective supporting bars 49. The various belts 46passing over the large sections 44 of roller 35 also pass over the smallsections 45 of roller 36. Likewise similar belts are fitted over thelarge sections 44 of roller 36 and fit over the small sections 45 ofroller 37. This idea is carried out for the full length of the machinefrom the left to the right as shown in Figure 1. It will be understoodthat the rollers 35 to 43 are successively smaller and smaller, thedifference being about for each roller from roller 35 to roller 43inclusive. Expressed in another way, the small section 45 of roller 35is usually of the same diameter as the large section 44 of roller 36,and in turn the small section 45 of roller 36 is the same diameter asthe large section 44 of roller 37. By carrying out this idea from frontto rear of the machine approximately half or a little more of each ofthe belts 46 fit tightly against the cloth 33, and the other half ortwo-fifths inclines upwardly from the cloth as indicated at 50 (Figs. 1and 4). It will thus be seen that the cloth 33 is acted on or pulled bythe respective belts from approximately point 51 to point 52, asillustrated in Figure 4. Between each of the rollers the same thing istrue, and by reason of this action the various filling threads arecrowded forwardly or to the right as shown in Figures 1 and 4. Asumcient crowding of the threads is provided so that they will berestored to their first position, namely, to forty filling threads orpicks per inch, where the cloth was woven with that number of fillingthreads or picks. After leaving the machineshown in Figure 1 the clothmay go to a tentering machine and be otherwise treated in the usualmanner.

The rollers are preferably identical throughout as shown in Figure 4,andare provided at each end with a shaft 53. Each of these shafts isjournaled in a journal block 54 which is clamped to a bar 49 by suitableclamping members 55, there being one clamping member for each bar. Eachof the bearing blocks 54 is provided with a pair of discs 56 and 57,each of said discs being provided with an internally threaded boreextending through the center of the disc, as illustrated particularly inFigure 5.

As shown particularly in Figures 1 and 5 there are provided a number ofadjusting screws 58 carried by the various discs 56 and other adjustingscrews 59 carried by the discs 57. It will be understood that anadjusting screw is arranged between each of the belts from roller 35 to43 inclusive.

The various adjusting screws 58 and 59 are provided with thumb members60 whereby they may be manually adjusted. These screws are provided withright and left hand threads, as illustrated in Figure 5, so that theymay be adjusted for maintaining the various belts taut. In order topermit the various blocks'54 to move as they are adjusted for tighteningthe belts, the bar 49 is provided with slots 61 (Figure 2), except forthe first clamping screw 55. When it is desired to tighten the variousbelts all of the screws except the first one at the left, shown inFigure 1, are loosened and then the various adjusting screws 58 and 59are tightened. As this takes place the various screws 55, except thefirst, will slide in their various slots 61.

After the belts have been tightened the clamping members 55 are screweddown and the device is then in condition for use. It will be understoodthat the various slots 61 are of ample length to secure the desiredadjustment as this adjustment is rather small at all times.

In order that the various rollers may function the rollers 35, 39 and 43are provided with ex tending shafts to which pulleys 62, 63 and 64 aresecured.- Coacting with these pulleys there are provided what may betermed guiding or idler pulleys 65, 66 and 67. A belt 68 passes over allthese pulleys and over the driving pulley 69 which is operated by apower shaft 70 driven by an electric motor or any other suitable sourceof power. By rotating the rollers 35, 39 and 43 in a positive mannerthere will be three points of power transmitted to the device, and powerwill be transmitted from these three points through the various belts 46to the other rollers and, consequently, all of belts will function atthe same time and be driven so as not only to feed the cloth 33 throughthe machine, but to crowd the filling threads together. are functioning,the drum 18 is pressing the cloth 33 against the belts with the desiredpressure which is considerable with certain fabrics and much less withother fabrics.

The machine is adapted to be made of a width to accommodate the widestcloth to be preshrunk, but it will be evident that if a narrow strip ofcloth is to be preshrunk it may be readily passed through the machineand the unused parts will merely function in an idle inanner while thecloth will be treated efficiently and in I the way planned. It is evenpossible where two narrow strips of cloth are to be preshrunk to treatthem side by side, provided they are sufficiently narrow to not crowdeach other.

While the device has been described as using steam heat, it will beunderstood that gas heat, electric heat or any combination of theseheating means or other heating means may be used without departing fromthe spirit of the invention; In many cases the use of gas burners forheating is very desirable.

I claim:

1. A preshrinking machine of the character described, including a drumhaving an operating surface, means for directing cloth over saidoperating surface, a plurality of comparatively nar: row belts forfeeding said cloth over said surface, said belts being appreciablyshorter than the length of said surface, a plurality of rollers forsupporting saidbelts, each of said rollers having belt receivingsections, half of the sections on each roller being of one diameter andhalf of the sections of less diameter, one end of each belt being on asection of larger diameter of one roller and on one of the secti9ns oflesser diameter of the next adjacent roller,and means for drivingcertain of said rollers, the remaining rollers being driven by saidbelts.

2. A preshrinking machine including a heating drum having an arc-shapedsurface over which a piece of cloth is adapted to be passed when beingtreated, means for preshrinking said cloth as the same passes over saidsurface, said means including a plurality of rollers, a reciprocatingmember carrying said drum, threaded means connected with saidreciprocating means for causing the reciprocating means to function, anda hand operated member for actuating said threaded means for varying theposition of said drum, said actuating means being-provided with anindicator for indicating the amount of movement thereof.

3. A preshrinking machine including a heated drum having a functioningsurface, means for As the various belts 46 L moistening'a piece of clothadapted to move over said drum, a plurality of rollers arranged inparallelism/adjacent said drum, a plurality of belts connecting thevarious rollers and moved thereby so as to act on'the cloth so that itwill be pressed against said drum and at the same time the fillingthreads will be crowded closer together whereby the cloth is preshrunkand substantially dried as itpasses through the machine, each of saidbelts being of a length to flt'overone roller and extend therefrom toand over the next adjacent roller, the belts being staggered so thathalf the belts on the respective rollers between the first and the lastroller will extend to the roller in front and the other half to theroller in the rear, said rollers being successively of different-sizesfrom the first to the last and formed so that a portion of each belt atone end will always remain out of contact with the cloth being treated,and means for varying the distance apart of said rollers whereby thetension on said belts may be maintained.

4. A preshrinking machine of the character described including a memberhaving a supporting surface over which a piece of cloth is adapted to bepassed, a plurality of rollers arranged adjacent said surface, each ofsaid rollers being provided with two sets of sections, one section beingof greater diameter than the other, a belt arranged on each section, thebelts onthe section having the greater diameter of one roller fittingalso on the "sections of lesser diameter on the next adjacent roller, aguiding structure for thebelts including a supporting bar havingaplurality of fingers straddling said belts for preventing the beltsfrom moving olf their respective sections, and means for driving certainof said rollers.

5. A preshrinking machine of the character described, including a frame,a plurality of supporting bars carried by the upper part of the frame, adrum having an arc-shaped surface, means for directing steam into thedrum for heating the same, means for moving the drum upwardly anddownwardly, means for moi'stening a cloth pass n over the arc-shapedsurface of the drum, a plurality of rollers arranged adjacent thearc-shaped surface of the drum, each' of said rollers having sections ofgreater diameter and sections of smaller diameter, belts arranged onsaid rollers, each belt passing over the greater diameter of one rollerand fitting on to the section of lesser diameter of the next adjacentroller, means for holding the belts on the respective sections, meansfor supporting the rollers on said supporting bars, adjusting means foradjusting the position of said supporting means so as to maintain saidbelts under tension, and power means for driving certain of saidrollers.

6. A preshrlnlring machine comprising a frame, a drum adapted to beheated, a group of rollers positioned to substantially contact with onesurface of said drum, said rollers being successively smaller from thefirst roller to the last roller, and a plurality of belts connected to"the various rollers and acting on cloth passing threads of the cloth ina direction longitudinal of the cloth, said belts being staggered tosubstantially cover said surface and of such lengths face, a pluralityof, rollers for supporting and moving said belts, the rollers beingsuccessively smaller from 'the first roller to the last, each of saidrollers having belt receiving sections, half of the sections on eachroller being of one diameter and half of the sections being of lessdiameter, one end of each belt being on the sectionof larger diameter ofone roller and on one of the sections of less diameter of the nextadjacent roller, and means for driving certain of said rollers, theremaining rollers being driven by said belts.

9. A preshrinking machine of the character described, including meanshaving a surface over which cloth is adapted to pass, a plurality ofrollers arranged adjacent said surface, said rollers being successivelysmaller from the first roller to the last roller, a plurality of beltscarried by said rollers adapted-to engage said cloth for moving the sameand producing a preshrinking operation at the same time, the succeedingsmaller and smaller rollers having a higher and higher peripheral speedfrom the first roller to the last roller, means for driving certain ofsaid rollers, the remaining rollers being driven by said belts.

10. A preshrinking machine comprising a frame, a member having a clothengaging surface, a group of rollers positioned a short distance abovesaid surface, a plurality of endless belts of less length and less widththan said surface and positioned to engage cloth moving over saidsurface and crowding the filling threads of the cloth in a directionlongitudinally of the cloth, said belts being mounted on said rollers,said rollers being adapted to successively rotate faster and faster fromthe first roller of the group to the last roller so that said belts willmove successively faster and faster from the first belt to the lastbelt, and means for causing said rollers to function.

11. A machine of the character described, including means having asurface over which cloth to be treated is adapted to pass, a pluralityof rollers arranged adjacent said surface, a plurality of belts of lesslength than said surface carried by said rollers and adapted to engagesaid cloth for part of the length of the respective belts, and means forcausing said belts to move faster and faster from one end of saidsurface to the other, said cloth being adapted to be fed into themachine at either end and if fed in at one end of said surface will beacted on by said belts for producing a preshrinking of the cloth whenthe belts are traveling in a givendirection, and if fed in at theopposite-end with the direction of movement of the belts reversed willbe stretched.

12. A machine of the character described, including a surface over whichcloth to be treated is adapted to pass, a plurality of comparativelynarrow belts forfeeding the cloth over said surface, said belts beingappreciably shorter than the length of the surface so that a pluralityof belts is'necessary to cover the surface from one end to theother, aplurality of rollers for supporting said belts, each roller havingbeltreceiving sections of different sizes, the belt positioned on alarge size section of one roller being positioned on the small sizesection of. the next adjacent roller, and at the next adjacent rollerbeing supported above the cloth being treated, and means for drivingsaid rollers which in turn drives said belts for acting on the clothpassing between said surface and said belts.

LIEVEN LOUIS DE SMET.

